Equine Therapy

Dustin and Nemo 2009

Therapeutic Riding gives the rider a different, and enjoyable outlet to traditional therapy.

Therapeutic horseback riding, also known as Equine Assisted Activity or Adaptive Riding is for individuals with a broad range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social disabilities. There are several different kinds of programs that utilize horses and horse riding for recreational benefits. Equine Assisted Activities are especially targeted for persons with disabilities.

We serve individuals with:

Down Syndrome

Cerebral Palsy

Autism

Tremors

Seizures

Spina Bifida

Multiple Sclerosis

Developmental and speech delays

Learning on horse back is fun! Most of the time, children do not realize that they are learning useful skills besides how to ride the horse! The rhythmic and repetitive movement of the horse mimics the natural movement of people as they walk. Using this movement on top of a horse naturally turns a persons hips and pelvis, encouraging the rider to sit up straight, and move in a rolling motion as if they were walking on the ground them selves. Using horses in therapy can help improve more than just mobility and balance!

Benefits of Therapeutic Riding:

Improves motor planning

Improves core strength

Improves attention span

Improves bilateral skills

Stimulates muscle memory

Teaches respect and patience

Introduces positive sensory activities

Teaches trust

Increases self confidence

Improves speech

Develops or improves social skills

Improves large motor skill

Improves fine motor skills

Strengthens spinal and pelvic muscles

Increases vestibular system by the 3 dimensional movement of the horse

A client enjoying a lesson

Day Camp

A camp director that is certified in CPR/First Aid will be in attendance at each camp. Each camper will learn how to take care of their own horse by cleaning stalls, brushing, tacking up and building a relationship with his or her very own horse for the week. We will enjoy horse related crafts and team building activities. Each day we will also spend a lot of time on horseback, learning how to maneuver the horses through certain obstacle courses while improving core strength, gross and fine motor skills and learning patience and direction following. While following adventures around the property, we can trail ride and walk through a small section of woods to look for Big Foot!

All camps are Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm and Friday 9am-12pm. Early drop off and late pick up is possible on an individual basis and will cost $12 per hour

EAP/EAL

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

Equine assisted psychotherapy pairs a qualified team which consists of a client, the licensed mental health professional and an equine specialist. This type of psychotherapy incorporates the use of an equine into the sessions. The clients do not ride on the horses for the sessions, but instead work the animal around on the ground by putting them through different obstacles. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is experiential, meaning that the clients are given the opportunity to learn about themselves through the sessions. The group then has the ability to discuss the session, observe behaviors of themselves and the horses and then realize different patterns that they may be making and how to better cope with specific situations in their every day lives.

Individuals who can benefit from EAP are people with PTSD, behavior issues, ADD, substance abuse, eating disorders, depression and anxiety.

Equine Assisted Learning

Horses mirror individual and team energy. They can be used in many different activities to help a person or group of people work through many different scenarios and can improve productivity, communication and employee satisfaction. EAL has been compared to a type of ropes course, only using the power of the horse.

The true magic of an equine assisted learning session can be seen well after the team goes back to work and has left the herd. EAL focuses more on specific goals for the individual or group of people. Goals may be better employee performance, learning how to better work in a team setting or learning patience and leadership skills. An EAL group still consists of the mental health professional, the equine practitioner, the horses and the client or group of clients.

Sleep-Away Camp

Day Camps and Sleep Away Camps

Sleep Away Camps- Dustin’s Place offers an adventure based, experiential camp for children and adults with developmental delays. Licensed professionals and college seniors who are earning their degree in PT, SLP, OT, Music or Psych are on staff daily and working with our campers. Specific goals for each child are met by experiential play and equine work. Set on a 200 acre working cattle ranch in Clarkrange, Tennessee, campers will have their own horse to care for through the week, sleep in male and female divided bunk houses with male and female staff in each room. Our 2:1 camper:staff ratio ensures our ability to give individual attention to each camper. Improving small and large motor skills by stomping through the creek, playing baseball and making crafts for the petting zoo and wildlife. Your child will join in stories of Bigfoot and great Native Americans as we build a wonderful world of magic and mystery by being able to touch and see nature, all while secretly building on the goals set before camp by the parents, therapists and your child’s school.

This type of camp will benefit children and adults with:

Disabilities in learning, developmental or mobility

Nonverbal or apraxia

Expressive and receptive speech deficiencies

Cerebral Palsy

Multiple Sclerosis

Aperts Syndrome

Down Syndrome

Auditory Processing Disorder

Sensory Processing Disorder

Individuals who attend camp with Dustin’s Place has the chance to:

Build lifelong friendships

Improve small motor skills

Improve large motor skills

Learn self help skills

Learn or improve coping strategies

Better ready campers for real life transitions into work or education

Recognize social skills

Build relationships with animals such as horses, dogs and cats

Improve group skills

Improve self confidence

Improve independence

Program activities include:

Daily horse therapy

Fishing

Flag/team building

Painting on horses

Rock skipping

Hiking

Trail riding

Blow darts

3 man sling shots

Dance parties and talent contests

Compass reading

Outdoor scavenger Hunts

Archery

Drop off and pick up will be at our farm, 6737 Concord Rd Cumming, GA 30028

20% off if you sign up before March 1st or 5% off if you sign up before April 1st. Remaining balance on due May 1st. Write check to Brecht Stables 6580 Riley Rd Cumming, GA 30028

Day Camps-

A camp director that is certified in CPR/First Aid will be in attendance at each camp and camp ratio is kept at 2 students to 1 counselor. Each camper will learn how to take care of their own horse by cleaning stalls, brushing, tacking up and building a relationship with his or her very own horse for the week. We will enjoy horse related crafts and team building activities. Each day we will also spend a lot of time on horseback, learning how to maneuver the horses through certain obstacle courses while improving core strength, gross and fine motor skills and learning patience and direction following. While following adventures around the property, we can trail ride and walk through a small section of woods to look for Big Foot!